Livingstone will get the first dedicated wildlife hospital in the region

The first wildlife hospital has been approved for Central Qld, with none currently between the Sunshine Coast and Townsville.

The Koala Territory Foundation has received a lease to create a new wildlife hospital and care facility in Livingstone which according to Foundation’s CEO Dr Rolf Schlagloth, pictured with Foundation president Dr Flavia Santamaria, is sorely needed. Pic supplied

A 10-year trustee lease has been given to the Koala Territory Foundation by Livingstone Shire Council for its first wildlife hospital and care facility at Glenlee.

Koala Territory Foundation CEO Dr Rolf Schlagloth said there was so much need in the area.

“There is no wildlife hospital between Rockhampton and the Sunshine Coast and between Rockhampton and Townsville,” Dr Schlagloth said.

“Koalas and other wildlife are suffering greatly because, yes we have some wildlife carers, but wildlife carers are not veterinarians and even veterinarians here are not specialised in wildlife.

Koalas are often victims of collisions with vehicles throughout Australia. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“Animals do get put down very often when they could possibly be treated if the expertise and the resources were readily available,” he said.

Dr Schlagloth has more than 30 years experience with koalas and said when they get injured they often die on the side of the road or before care could even reach them.

He said on a 50km-stretch of the Peak Downs Highway in 2023 there were 145 koalas killed.

“These are animals killed, we don’t know how many got injured but obviously there would be many,” Dr Schlagloth said.

“And not only koalas, kangaroos, echidnas… there are also lots of injuries and kills along the Bruce Highway.”

He said people occasionally take koalas down to the Sunshine Coast but the distance involved would mean when the animal arrived the situation was dire.

“If you look at southeast Queensland there are four or five wildlife hospitals down there in a much, much smaller area, that’s because... there are more people there, there’s more infrastructure.”

Dr Schlagloth is hoping the wildlife hospital and care facility will be up and running in the next two years and could have six to 10 staff on a rotational basis and run 24/7.

In 2023 m145 koalas were counted as killed on a 50 kilometre stretch of the Peaks Down Hwy. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

“We are thinking of linking with universities,” Dr Schlagloth said.

Along with the wildlife hospital, Dr Schlagloth said the Foundation also wants to get an animal ambulance.

“We can go to the scene (of an injured animal) or assist in moving wildlife, including koalas, once they are rehabilitated back to where they came from,” he said.

The new wildlife hospital and care facility is envisaged as the first port of call for injured wildlife, including koalas, in the Central Queensland area. Pic supplied

Though its primary aim would be the treatment of wildlife Dr Schlagloth hopes the facility to also be an educational one.

In the meantime, should you hit a koala, Dr Schlagloth has some words of advice.

“You should always have a woollen blanket in the back of your car. Throw that over the animal (and) once they’re covered and it’s dark, hopefully they’ll calm down, and then put them in your car.

Then phone the local RSPCA.

Originally published as Livingstone will get the first dedicated wildlife hospital in the region